Year of Discovery, 2006

This has been a year of orientation for the Kesner’s. After Chris Thompson’s resignation in 2005 we became the CBF facilitators for Together for Hope High Plains in February 2006. We have been working with Chris and Dana’s Warm Embrace organization since 2003, but these new TFH responsibilities still feel brand new, and, at times, are overwhelming.

Warm Embrace began in 2003 as a project to provide Comfort Items to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Since then six churches continue the ministry there, with projects in Eagle Butte, Bridger, Cherry Creek, and Red Scaffold. Chris and Dana continue to coordinate the work of these churches through Warm Embrace, Inc.

Together for Hope High Plains works in close concert with Warm Embrace and continues to develop other ministries as well on the Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and Crow Creek Sioux Reservations. Since April, we have made five trips to South Dakota. Our first visit was to Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River in April. The last of May and First of June we pulled our Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer and visited all but one of the reservations over a period of almost three weeks.

The last of July we pulled a cargo trailer loaded with clothing, toys, and other items for the Second Baptist Church, Liberty, MO mission trip to Cheyenne River. Come September it was time for the national Together for Hope Team Meeting in Rapid City. This meeting concluded with tours of Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River led by Lakota residents Byron and Toni Buffalo, Leon Matthews and Ata Jack.

Our final trip was in November, when we again pulled a cargo trailer loaded with clothing, quilting fabric, toys, some furnishings and other items to three of the reservations. First stop was at Crow Creek, followed by stops in Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge.

We have learned a lot, met a lot of key Lakota people, and increased our awareness of reservation needs. Most important has been the continuation of some relationships and the beginning of others. Pray for us as we seek to help interested churches and persons channel their resources in the most productive way possible to increase hope among these decedents of our original American ancestors.